Go Big

The Big Bend Ultra begins and ends at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center in Big Bend Ranch State Park. All runners enter a remote desert trail system where phones do not function. The race takes place each January, offering 10K, 20K, 35K, 55K, and 100K distances, ranging from a short trail run to a full day in the backcountry. This event is part of the Texas Trail Championship. The concept for an ultra in Big Bend dates back to the race's early years, when organizing an event across such isolated parkland presented significant logistical challenges. The courses traverse terrain within Big Bend National and State Park, a vast area with limited water, scarce fuel, and aid stations inaccessible to most support crews and spectators by vehicle. The 10K is an out-and-back route without an aid station. The 55K includes more single track and elevation gain compared to earlier iterations of the course. The 100K is a single loop limited to 100 participants, with a 20-hour time limit and 4,571 feet of elevation gain. Pacers are prohibited because of the remote aid stations. Experienced mountain bikers assist with trail preparation, dismantling, and safety patrols. Participants who finish receive handmade clay medals; 100K finishers are awarded buckles. The race benefits Friends of Big Bend Ranch State Park and the Big Bend Trail Alliance. The same isolation that defines the race's difficulty also provides runners with a dark-sky environment featuring exceptionally low light pollution after dusk.